A Medical Missionary’s Letter by R. H. Habenicht

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 26, 1908

A Medical Missionary’s Letter

By R. H. Habenicht

I WISH our dear people in the States could see the crying need of this country for medical missionary work. Where nearly every State has its sanitarium in which the people can be well cared for, they forget that there are places where thousands are suffering for lack of proper facilities to carry on this work. In these parts one may go from station to station, from country to country, and find thousands of people, and not a competent doctor or nurse; and many who have money to pay for care and treatment are dying for lack of them.

I have visited several of the hospitals in the larger cities, and it makes my heart ache to see the misery in these places, and the wretched care the poor people receive. I will tell you briefly of a case that came under my personal observation, as an example. A man suffering with stone in the bladder came to me for treatment. As I had no place to perform the necessary operation, I sent him to the German hospital in Buenos Aires. When he was examined, the physician said to an attendant: “Take this poor devil out, and put him in the ward, and let him die.” Another man in the hospital, who had money, heard of it, and told the doctor to perform an operation if necessary, at his expense. The operation was speedily performed; but instead

of giving the man proper care, they sent him home before the wound was healed. He came to me before he went away, and we cared for him until it was safe for him to travel.

In the States I have treated such a case in a few days, and could do so here if we had room and the needed outfit. We are so crowded here, and have so little room, that it is impossible to have a surgical ward in proper shape. What would our sanitarium doctors think of making an abdominal operation in the dining-room of a private house? This is an occurrence not at all rare in our home; but imagine the work of cleaning and washing walls, disinfecting, etc., that it makes; and even with these precautions, there is danger. But under the circumstances it is the best we can do, and the Lord gives us success. But in addition to this work, we must look after the outside practise, be nurse, and give treatments. I often ride sixty miles in a wagon in one day, and many nights my only sleep is what I get by throwing myself down on some straw in the wagon-box while we go bumping over the ruts and ditches of these South American country roads. Not long since, there were sixteen days and nights that I was every day and every night on the road, and sometimes the whole night. So you see we are not having much time to play. Although the work is often hard, and days and nights are long, still comes the blessed thought that some, as in the case of the one leper healed among the ten, return to give God glory.

A COMPANY IN BRAZIL WHO HAVE ACCEPTED THE ADVENT MESSAGE

Now we have determined to make our work more representative, and to do so we have planned to build a small sanitarium, and equip it as best we can, considering our limited means. Some are taking hold and helping nobly; but we are few, the work is large for us, and we do not yet know how it will turn out. One thing we know: the Lord is in the work, and he has the means somewhere among his people; and if they only know of the need, they will supply the necessary funds. Many eyes are upon us. Within the last few days three different Catholic priests have told me that they are watching our work in these lines, and that they are recommending their people to us. One leading Catholic man, who has a son just entering the priesthood, said to me: “I do not see why it is that the Sabatistas [Sabbath-keepers] have to do the work that we ought to do.” He then gave me fifty dollars for the new sanitarium enterprise. With such demands as we have for work, and with such opportunities to get the truth before classes we can reach in no other way, it seems to me that we shall be grossly negligent if we do not provide a place for the better carrying forward of this work.

As to our special needs I might say much. We need everything that goes to make a sanitarium. We must have seven or eight thousand dollars to put up the building. The building must be furnished, each room needing for simple necessities about fifty dollars. The medical office and bath-room will need perhaps six hundred dollars. Rugs for the patients’ rooms are a luxury we can hardly expect here, yet our brethren know their homes all have them. Silverware for the dining-room could be purchased more cheaply in America, as here such things are high. A good static electric machine would be a boon of highest worth to the work. This must doubtless come from the States. It should be a good machine of the new type, with X-ray tube and fluoroscope.

We might say much more about our needs, but this is not perhaps necessary. You will doubtless see from what I say that the work here is growing; and with a little help to start it, I am confident that it will be self-supporting.

I have worked hard to help this work along, but it is my greatest joy to do so. And so we labor on with good cheer. Pray that our strength fail not, and that God may go before us in the work.

R. H. HABENICHT. Diamante, Entre Rios.